>>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

[RIT Winters]

Nice comeback to tie it up, set up by 10 minutes of sloppy play letting Niagara back in. Sure would have been nice to see a big save on one of those breakaways. Sure doesn't settle the goalie situation. One of these guys have to step up.

Ideally the team wouldn't give up 2 clean breakaways and a 3rd partial breakaway in a 10 minute span, however. Odd how all the blame both from the coach and the trollboards falls only on the guy with the least responsibility for our terrible mistakes.

Would it be nice to see a big stop there? Absolutely! But it's a high percentage play for the offense and something the team needs to cut down on. Rotolo played well outside of the breakaways. He made the saves he should, something we have struggled to find this year.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Ideally the team wouldn't give up 2 clean breakaways and a 3rd partial breakaway in a 10 minute span, however. Odd how all the blame both from the coach and the trollboards falls only on the guy with the least responsibility for our terrible mistakes.

Would it be nice to see a big stop there? Absolutely! But it's a high percentage play for the offense and something the team needs to cut down on. Rotolo played well outside of the breakaways. He made the saves he should, something we have struggled to find this year.

Well the one thing the team seems to do in front of Mike is score goals. There might be something to the thought that the team plays better in front of Mike. I see no reason why he should not be in goal on Friday night.

 

[Ed Trefzger]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

So let me get this straight: one goalie is responsible for the goals his team doesn't score, while another goalie is not responsible for the goals he gives up?

 

[Rochester]

I do not get this team. They seem to play better on the road. It's like they can't handle the big crowds at the GPC. I for one and glad Holy Cross is an away series.

There boys are lucky this weekend... Now three more difficult series left...

 

[XCTiger]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

I do not get this team. They seem to play better on the road. It's like they can't handle the big crowds at the GPC. I for one and glad Holy Cross is an away series.

There boys are lucky this weekend... Now three more difficult series left...

except for the middle of the 3rd, they probably played better on saturday. Difference on Friday was that the Niagara defense didn't pressure them. Left them with space and time to do what they wanted with the puck.tonight was a totally different story.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

I do not get this team. They seem to play better on the road. It's like they can't handle the big crowds at the GPC. I for one and glad Holy Cross is an away series.

I don't know about that. They played pretty well in the first GPC game against Niagara, and against St. Lawrence, arguably Clarkson, the second game against Army, and the first game against Sacred Heart.


Powers &8^]

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

So let me get this straight: one goalie is responsible for the goals his team doesn't score, while another goalie is not responsible for the goals he gives up?

It's not exactly that simple. Breakaways are high percentage plays and goalies aren't usually the ones put under the microscope following a breakaway goal. In order for Rotolo to even be in that position the other 5 guys on the ice had to blow their assignments. Coach should be more angry at the defense for all pinching (and no forwards for taking their spots on the point) than he should be at Rotolo for giving up the subsequent breakaway.

Either way, continuing my theory that the team simply plays better for Rotolo...went came out of a weekend against Niagara with 3/4 points and outscored them 15-7 including the illusive Friday win on what is normally Ruby's night.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

So let me get this straight: one goalie is responsible for the goals his team doesn't score, while another goalie is not responsible for the goals he gives up?

I'm with Winters on this one. We're coming down to the last three series of the regular season. It's time to put some stability in net and that means picking your goalie and sticking with him. Stability in the net should correlate to stability to the rest of the team on the ice. Nothing worse than playing on egg shells with the thought that if you let up one soft goal you will be yanked. Early in the season fine, but during the home stretch I'm not so sure. Right now the team is playing better in front of Mike despite some defensive mistakes along the way that have put Mike in some tough spots. I think they play with more energy for whatever reason and we need that energy and momentum as we position ourselves for the playoffs.

BTW over on the SLU thread lots of rumor talk about changes in the ECAC if Quinnipiac left and who would be a good fit, some say HC some say RIT.

 

[Ivan Lennon]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

BTW over on the SLU thread lots of rumor talk about changes in the ECAC if Quinnipiac left and who would be a good fit, some say HC some say RIT.[/QUOTE]

Either HC or RIT would be a good fit

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

It's not exactly that simple. Breakaways are high percentage plays and goalies aren't usually the ones put under the microscope following a breakaway goal. In order for Rotolo to even be in that position the other 5 guys on the ice had to blow their assignments. Coach should be more angry at the defense for all pinching (and no forwards for taking their spots on the point) than he should be at Rotolo for giving up the subsequent breakaway.

Either way, continuing my theory that the team simply plays better for Rotolo...went came out of a weekend against Niagara with 3/4 points and outscored them 15-7 including the illusive Friday win on what is normally Ruby's night.

Rotolo needed to come up with a big save and he did not - that's the bottom line. I bet he would say that as well. Rotolo got bailed out for taking a loss by getting the extra attacker goal to salvage a tie.

I don't think that RIT plays that much better with Rotolo than they do with Ruby. It may seem that way since Rotolo had been racking up wins. Maybe they score more for Rotolo - I don't know. It would seem that way.

I do find it funny that I brought up that Ruby only gave up 2 goals in his 2 games against Niagara and was told that he should have done that. Rotolo gives up 7 and excuses are being made for him.

I'm not sure who I would start next weekend. This was Rotolo's big chance to take the reigns and he gave up 7 to a team that averages 4 on a weekend. That won't cut it. I'm sure Coach would love stability but the goalies have not shown that they can be that guy. And while we shouldn't have goalies looking over their shoulder for a bad game, everyone wants Rotolo to start the rest of the way because Ruby - AND THE REST OF THE TEAM - had a terrible 35 minutes against Army.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

And while we shouldn't have goalies looking over their shoulder for a bad game, everyone wants Rotolo to start the rest of the way because Ruby - AND THE REST OF THE TEAM - had a terrible 35 minutes against Army.

I think I've gone to great lengths to explain my dislike for Ruby, it has existed for 3 years and is continually reinforced. One 35 minute stretch against Army did not create my feelings for him.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

I don't think that RIT plays that much better with Rotolo than they do with Ruby. It may seem that way since Rotolo had been racking up wins. Maybe they score more for Rotolo - I don't know. It would seem that way.

I think Ruby and Rotolo have similar talent, (one is not far and away better than the other). Go back a few years when Bentley played that infamous three game playoff series at the Ritter. Shane gave up 7 goals (3 in the first game (plus the empty netter) in a 4-1 loss) in the first two games including letting Bentley come back from 3-0 and 4-1 deficits in the second game to tie in regulation before Bentley lost in the second OT 5-4 on Burt's goal. Coach did not hesitate to bring Shane back for the 3rd and deciding game. Riding the high from the night before we all remember that Shane shut out Bentley 3-0 in the deciding third game. Watson and Ruby remained on the bench.

That Bentley team was certainly better than the Niagara team that RIT played this weekend but that weekend Coach went with the goalie that gave him the best chance to win. IMO as the season winds down, I believe Rotolo is our man. Of course I could be dead wrong, , but we'll all see come this Friday.

BTW, I think our thread is one of the better ones here because of the diversity of opinions yet the unity of purpose. We all want RIT to succeed and our posters freely share their thoughts without going overboard. Good job all.

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

It's not exactly that simple. Breakaways are high percentage plays and goalies aren't usually the ones put under the microscope following a breakaway goal. In order for Rotolo to even be in that position the other 5 guys on the ice had to blow their assignments. Coach should be more angry at the defense for all pinching (and no forwards for taking their spots on the point) than he should be at Rotolo for giving up the subsequent breakaway.

In my opinion, breakaways is a type of play for which the goalie has more control over the result, not less. You have to win a 1-1 battle like that at least half the time.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

In my opinion, breakaways is a type of play for which the goalie has more control over the result, not less. You have to win a 1-1 battle like that at least half the time.

Any time a shooter has ample time and space, he is at the advantage. He can carefully pick his spots and wait for the goalie to have to make the first move. It is a high percentage play, the same as if you leave a guy alone in the slot during a game...he's likely to go bar down on your goalie.

Not saying it wouldn't have been nice for a stop there, but even if Rotolo stops one of the breakaways we still only end up with a tie, all other things being equal. One of those breakaways was an absolute top corner snipe...no goalie is going to reliably get that.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

I think Ruby and Rotolo have similar talent, (one is not far and away better than the other). Go back a few years when Bentley played that infamous three game playoff series at the Ritter. Shane gave up 7 goals (3 in the first game (plus the empty netter) in a 4-1 loss) in the first two games including letting Bentley come back from 3-0 and 4-1 deficits in the second game to tie in regulation before Bentley lost in the second OT 5-4 on Burt's goal. Coach did not hesitate to bring Shane back for the 3rd and deciding game. Riding the high from the night before we all remember that Shane shut out Bentley 3-0 in the deciding third game. Watson and Ruby remained on the bench.

That Bentley team was certainly better than the Niagara team that RIT played this weekend but that weekend Coach went with the goalie that gave him the best chance to win. IMO as the season winds down, I believe Rotolo is our man. Of course I could be dead wrong, , but we'll all see come this Friday.

Though I agree basically, there is a huge difference between Madolora and Ruby/Watson/Rotolo. Madolora is, statistically speaking, the best regular season goalie RIT has had in the division 1 era. He was the best goalie in Atlantic Hockey for 3 straight years. If he has a bad game or two, he doesn't get benched...because he is clearly THE guy. I don't think it's as easy to make the same case for Rotolo. He was handed the ball this weekend and although he did get 3/4 points and was basically the victim of 2 own goals and terrible defense....he still didn't shut them down, which is what we all wanted out of whoever finally got the reins.

Just based on how Wilson talked on the radio I have a sense we might see a bit of Ruby next weekend...or maybe a lot of him.

 

[komey1]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

I think Ruby and Rotolo have similar talent, (one is not far and away better than the other). Go back a few years when Bentley played that infamous three game playoff series at the Ritter. Shane gave up 7 goals (3 in the first game (plus the empty netter) in a 4-1 loss) in the first two games including letting Bentley come back from 3-0 and 4-1 deficits in the second game to tie in regulation before Bentley lost in the second OT 5-4 on Burt's goal. Coach did not hesitate to bring Shane back for the 3rd and deciding game. Riding the high from the night before we all remember that Shane shut out Bentley 3-0 in the deciding third game. Watson and Ruby remained on the bench.

That Bentley team was certainly better than the Niagara team that RIT played this weekend but that weekend Coach went with the goalie that gave him the best chance to win. IMO as the season winds down, I believe Rotolo is our man. Of course I could be dead wrong, , but we'll all see come this Friday.

BTW, I think our thread is one of the better ones here because of the diversity of opinions yet the unity of purpose. We all want RIT to succeed and our posters freely share their thoughts without going overboard. Good job all.

That Bentley series does not compare to this season. Madolora was the clear starter that season. There is no clear starter this season. Both Ruby and Rotolo have been given chances to be that clear starter and neither has been able to hold on to it - showing only bursts of success. I'd be happy if one of them could step up. Now watch MacLeon be the starter

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Just based on how Wilson talked on the radio I have a sense we might see a bit of Ruby next weekend...or maybe a lot of him.

Yeah Shane might not have been the best example, he was clearly the #1, I was trying to come up with an example of a series of games that shows sticking with your guy not only for the goalies sake but also the teams. Need to re-think that a bit.

The one thing that Mike has going for him was that Jordan previously started both games when Holy Cross visited RIT earlier this year. But then again, Mike started all five games against Holy Cross last year. I do hope we're done with splitting the starts on the weekend though, but in order for one goalie to get both starts probably implies a Friday night RIT win.

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Any time a shooter has ample time and space, he is at the advantage. He can carefully pick his spots and wait for the goalie to have to make the first move. It is a high percentage play, the same as if you leave a guy alone in the slot during a game...he's likely to go bar down on your goalie.

I can't find any stats on breakaways, but penalty shot conversions (which you'd think would be higher without the presence of other players on the ice) have about a 40% success rate, not exactly a "high percentage" play. My observations over the years put a chance of scoring on a breakaway about 1 in 3.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

I can't find any stats on breakaways, but penalty shot conversions (which you'd think would be higher without the presence of other players on the ice) have about a 40% success rate, not exactly a "high percentage" play. My observations over the years put a chance of scoring on a breakaway about 1 in 3.

You realize that given even the most mediocre of goalies stops 89% or better of shots taken on average....a 60% success chance on a shootout or 66% chance on a breakaway does count as being far more in the shooters favor than any other play.

I assume we all watch hockey at a higher level than RIT, so I will direct you to the commentary and analysis of an NHL game. How often have you seen a team score on a breakaway and have the analysis focus on how the goalie was at fault or "should have" had it. It's not very often. Most of the time they rewind the tape and show the breakdown in play that led to the breakaway and they point out how/why the breakaway should not have happened. Rarely do they then go "Oh, but the goalie should stop that breakaway."

Prior to the breakaway-fest in the 3rd, Rotolo played a strong game. He had something around 19 saves on 20 shots before the first breakaway. Had RIT limited their mistakes and only given up, say, a single breakaway in the period (I would call that an acceptable amount of failure) then Rotolo walks out of that game with a save percentage over .900 and a win. I'm sure he'd want back the first one that trickled between his legs, but the second one was a legitimate snipe. Some shots simply aren't going to be stopped by any goalie.

 

[Chris Lerch]

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

Re: >>>>>RIT TIGERS... The Polisseum, just like the Ritter only more of us!<<<<<

In this specific case, I have seen both Rotolo and Ruby frequently (and Rotolo a bit during his development) and I can't say there is a clear front-runner. Ruby had more upside before coming to RIT, but I can't say that he has outplayed Rotolo. At the same time, I have never thought that Rotolo should be the clear starter. I think the situation is very much in the air for the rest of the season.